He reportedly said the song was “related to people who go postal – about people who acquire a gun and do awful things with it”.

There is no suggestion the song inspired the shooter to carry out the massacre.

But the tune’s eerie echo of yesterday’s events has not been lost on many.

The chilling lyrics to Valentine's Day by David Bowie

Valentine told me who's to go
Feelings he treasured most of all
The teachers and the football stars
It's in his tiny face
It's in his scrawny hands
Valentine sold his soul
He's got something to say
It's Valentine's day
The rhythm of the crowd
Benny and Judy down
Valentine sees it all
He's got something to say
It's Valentine's day

Valentine told me how he feels
If all the world were under his heels
Or stumbling through the mall
It's in his tiny face
It's in his scrawny hands
Valentine knows it all
He's got something to say